Flu, foul weather drain blood banks

Agencies put out call for O-negative donations

11:25 PM,
Jan. 29, 2013

Written by

Janice Lloyd
| USA Today

As flu and frigid weather force people across the U.S. to stay bundled up inside, blood banks report donors are canceling appointments and supplies are dropping.

"The American Red Cross is seeing a lower-than-expected turnout," said Stephanie Millian, director of biomedical communications at the American Red Cross. "We've even had seven blood drives canceled because of the weather in the Great Lakes area."

None of the agencies responsible for collecting blood is reporting a shortage, but they are experiencing low levels in several types of blood. ...